Combination-tool.



No. 674,735. Patented May 2|, 190|. S. J. JOHNSTON.

GDMBINATIUN TOOL.

\Applica.tion flied4 June 9, 1900.) v (No Model.) 2Shees-Sheet l.

No. 674,735. Patented IMay 2l, IQOI. S. J. JOHNSTON.

COMBINATION TOOL.

(Application lec June 9, 1900.) f (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

SAMUEL J. JOHNSTON, OF LEESBURG, VIRGINIA.

COMBINATION-TOOL..

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 674,735, dated May 21, 1901.

Application tiled June 9,1900. Serial No.5l9,703. (No mgeLl To all whom, Z 77u02/ concern:

Be it known that l, SAMUEL J. JOHNSTON, a citizen ot the United States, residing at Leesbu rg, in the county of Loudoun and State of Virginia, have invented a new and useful Oombinationflool, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to combination-tools, and has special reference to that type of combinaton-tools constructed principally in the form vof a wrench and having interchangeable and adjustable elements associated therewith, whereby the same maybe conveniently converted into different forms of tools.

To this end the invention contemplates an improved construction of combination-tool having' a main wrench portion with which is associated novel handlefastening means and other elements which provide means for readily converting the device into -a plain monkey and pipe wrench, a long-handled screw-driver, an S wrench, a carpenters brace, a vertical or horizontal bench-vise, as a plain short screw-driver, as a glass-cutter, and into such other useful adaptations as the combination and arrangement of parts will permit.

In carrying out the invention the same has specially in view a novel form of handle-fastening, which is associated with the wrench proper and is capable of attachment thereto either substantially in line with or at right angles to the tool or wrench shank, in combination with a novel form of detachable stem, which serves not only as a supporting or carrying stem for the handle, but also subserves an independent function as a toolstem, the same being capable of independent use either as a short screw-driver or as a glass-cutting tool.

W'ith these and many other objects in view, which will more readily appear as the nature of the invention is better understood,the same consists in the novel construction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, illust rated,and claimed.

The essential features of the invention, especially those embodied in the construction and arrangement ofthe combined handle and tool-stem, are necessarily susceptible to a variety of modifications without departing` from the spirit or scope of the invention; but the preferred embodiment of the improvements is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a side elevation ot' the tool, showing the parts arranged and combined for use as a carpenter-s brace. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view ot the construction shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail cross-sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4f is a side View of the tool, showing the handle attached longitudinally of the tool or Wrench shank or substantially in line therewith to provide a plain monkey and pipe wrench, as well as a long-handled screw-driver. Fig. 5 is a side view of the parts arranged with the handle attached at right angles to the tool or wrench shank to form what is known in the trade as an S-wrench, especially useful in connection with wagon and carriage fixtures. Fig. 6 is an elevation, partly in section, of the tool adapted for use as a horizontal bench-vise. Fig. '7 is a similarview showing the tool arranged for use as a vertical or upstanding benchyise. Fig. S is a detail elevation of the detachable handle and toolstem arranged for independent use as a short screw-driver. Fig. 9 is a similar view of said stem arranged for use as a glass-cuttingtool.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several ignres of the drawings.

In carrying out the present invention the body part of the tool is in the form of a Wrench, and the several improvements are directly associated with this Wrench to provide for converting the same into dilerent kinds of tools, and while different forms oi' wrenches might be utilized in connection With the features forming the subjectmatter of the present application still for illustrative purposes there is shown in the drawings a form of wrench which may be utilized either as an ordinary nut or monkey wrench or as a pipe-gripping wrench.

Referring'particularly to the construction' of this wrench, the numeral 1 designates the IOO respectively, projecting from opposite sides of the shank to form complementary parts of the nut and pipe gripping portions. With the xed jaw 2 at one end of the shank 1 is associated a movable jaw 5, also having the opposite portions 3a and 4,respectively,which will coperate with the portions 3 and 4 of the fixed jaw 2 to provide complete nut and pipe gripping portions, it being understood that the pipe-gripping portions 4c and 4 of the fixed and movable jaws are preferably fitted with serrated gripping faces or plates 6 toinsure a non-slipping engagement with a pipe or other object upon which the jaws may be clamped.

In the construction described any suitable means may be utilized for adjusting the movable jaw 5 with relation to the fixed jaw 2; but the ordinary expedient is preferably employed-that is, astraight adj usting-screw 6, having an engagement with a threaded opening 7 in the movable jaw 5 and swiveled at its opposite end in a bearing 8, provided at one end of the tool-shank 1, and at such extremity the screw 6% carries the usual wingplate 9a for the convenient manipulation thereof.

To provide for the attachment of the handle to the tool or wrench shank either parallel with or at right angles thereto, the said shank is provided at the end opposite the xed jaw2 with an attaching-head 10, which head preferably projects laterally from one side of the shank in transverse alinement with the bearing 8 for the screw 6a, and the said attaching-head 10 has formed 'therein the threaded sockets 11 and 11a, which pierce the head 10, respectively, at right angles to each other and in such planes that the threaded socket 11 will lie at right angles to the length of the shank 1 and the socket 11a will be disposed in parallelism with or substantially longitudinally of the said shank.

The handle (designated by the reference character 12) is in the form of the usual cylindrical or swelled hand-grip and in the presentinvention is also of the usual tubular construction, but is designed to have loosely swiveled therein a tubular supporting-sleeve 13, preferably formed with a polygonal bore 14 and provided at one end, exterior to the inner end of the handle l2, with an annular locking flange or plate 15. This annular locking flange or plate 15, which is preferably formed integrally with the sleeve 13 at one end thereof, is provided with a plurality of peripheral notches 16, which coperate and interlock with the rigid holding-studs 17, projecting from the faces of the attaching-head 10, in which the threaded sockets 11 and 11n are formed. The end of the interior sleeve 13 opposite its locking fiange or plate 15 has a suitable swiveled connection 18 within the outer chambered end 19 of the handle 12, so that the sleeve constitutes a permanent part of the handle, while at the same time permitting of the free rotation of the handle in the manipulation of the tool,especially when used as the carpenter-s brace, which is shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

The attachment of the handle to the toolshank, either longitudinally thereof or at right angles to the same, is effected through the medium of an element constituting one of the important parts of the invention. This element is the detachable combined handle and tool-stein 20, which removably fits within the sleeve 13 and is provided at one end with an integral threaded fasteningdowel 21, which is adapted to be detachably engaged in eitherof the sockets 11 and 11a. The said combined handle and tool-stem 20, in addition to the fastening-dowel 21, has lifted to the dowel end thereof a glass-cutting element 22, which is preferably in the form ofthe beveled cutting-disk usually employed by glaziers, and in order to make the stem 2O a complete glass-cutting tool of itself the same is provided contiguous to the dowel portion 21, which carries the cutting element 22, with across-sectionally-polygonal shank portion 23, in which is formed a plurality of nipping-notches 24, which are adapted to be engaged over the edge of the glass in which the incision or score-mark has been made by the cutter 22, and thereby provide for breaking the glass in the manner usually followed by glaziers. The said cross-sectionally-polygonal shank portion 23 also serves another function, and that is that by registering within the correspondingly-shaped bore 14 of the' handle-sleeve 13 the latter is held rigid in its interlocked position upon theattaching-head 10 of the toolshank after the fasteningdowel 21 is screwed home into either of the sockets therefor.

Besides the glass-cutting element the combined handle and tool-stem 20 is also provided at its end opposite theglass-cutter with a tapered screw-driver point 25 and between the latter and the glass-cutter with a main threaded portion 26, adapted to removably receive thereon the handle-nut 27, which is provided at one end with a hollow knob portion 28, which forms a convenient grip for manipulating the nut, while at the same time constituting a handle or hand-knob in some uses thereof, as will be hereinafter more fully explained. When the handle l2 is associated with the tool-shan k and is held thereto through the medium of its sleeve 13, the main portion of the nut 27, which engages with the threaded portion 26 of the stem 20, ts within the outer chambered end 19 of the handle, while the knob portion 28 is disposed exterior to the handle,so that it may be conveniently grasped by the hand, and with all of the parts assembled the screw-d river point 25 of the com bined handle and tool-stem 2O projects through and beyond the hollow knob portion 28 of the fastening-nut and is adapted to receive thereon the socket-piece 29 at one extremity of the brace-arm 30 of the usual form. The said socket-piece 29 of the brace-arm 30 is formed IOO IIO

with a cross-sectionally-polygonal bore to fit the correspondingly shaped screw driver point 25, as plainly illustrated in the drawings.

To provide for adapting the tool for use as a carpenters brace, the auger or other toolpoint P is gripped between the jaws 2 and 5 of the tool, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and it is then necessary to mount the handle attachment upon the tool-shank at right angles thereto. This is accomplished by placing the stem 20 within the handle l2, and then by means ot the fingers grasping the screw-driver end of the stem the fastening-dowel 21 thereof may be screwed nearly home in the threaded socket 11, disposed at right angles to the tool-shank 1. The locking flange or plate 15 is then grasped between the fingers and turned sniiiciently when necessary to bring one of its notches 16 into engagement with the rigid holding-stud 17 at the side ofthe attaching-head 10 in which the socket 11 is formed, after which the handlenut 27 is worked into the chambered end of4 the handle a sut'icient distance to clamp it between the Iiange 15 and the knob portion 28 of the nut, whereupon the socket-piece 29 of the brace-arm is applied to the screwdriver point 25 of the stern and the tool is ready for use as a carpenters brace 0r for similar purposes. In this connection it may be explained that after the fastening-dowel 21 has been partly screwed home by hand and the flange 15 engaged with the stud 17 the brace-arm may be applied to the screw-driver point to screw the stem as tightly as desired in place, after which the parts are tightened up by the nut 27 in the manner already eX- plained.

'lhe mounting of the handle attachment upon the tool-shank in parallelism therewith or substantially longitudinally thereof is accom plished in the same manner as the application of the handle attachment at right angles to the shank, which has already been described; but in the positioning of the handle parallel with or longitudinally of the toolshank, as shown in Fig. 4c of the drawings, and without the use of the brace-arm 30 the tool may be used as an ordinary monkey and pipe wrench, as well as a long-handled screwdriver, inasmuch as the screw-driver point projects through and beyond the knob portion of the handle-nut 27.

A different type of wrench can be formed by mounting the handle at right angles to the tool-shank, as shown in Fig. 5 of the drawings, and without the use of this brace-arm, and this type of wrench is commonly known in the trade as an S-wrench, the same being specially useful about a carriage or wagon.

Besides the use of the device as a combination hand-tool it may be employed as a benchfixture, as shown in Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 6 the tool is utilized as a horizontal bench-vise,with the stem 2O screwed into the attaching-head ot the shank at right angles to the shank and passing through the opening in the bench B, thereby acting in the capacity of a fasteningbolt, upon the threaded portion of which is mounted the nut 27. ln the construction just described the handle l2 is omitted an'd the fastening-nut 27 binds n nder lthe bench and serves to rigidly hold the tool in a horizontal position thereupon, so that the fixed and movable jaws 2 and 5 will constitute the jaws ot a convenient bench-vise for such purposes as it may be used. The tool can likewise be fastened in the bench B and held in an upright position, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings, the only difference being that the stein 2O is fastened to the attaching-head 10 so as to lie parallel with or longitudinally of the toolshank.

Reference has already been made to the individual and independent use of the combined handle and tool-stem 20. -In such use of the stem 2O the same is entirely disassociated from the tool-shank and the handle and may be employed as a short screw-d river, with the nut 27 screwed upon the dowel 21 to form a handle for the screw-driver. This use ot' the stem 20 is shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, and in Fig. 9 of the drawings it is shown disassooiated from every other attachment, so that it maybe manipulated as a glass-cutting tool.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many uses of the herein-described tool will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the form, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the principle or sacrificing any ofthe advantages of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new,and desired to be secured by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of a tool-shank, a stem having a detachable connection at one end with said shank, a handle loosely and detachably fitting over said stem, means for locking the stem against turni n g,and a locking device arranged at one end of the handle and engaging with the stem to provide for holding the handle thereon.

2. In a tool of the class described, the combination of the tool-shank, a stem detachably connected with said shank and provided with a threaded portion, a handle loosely and detachably arranged upon the stem, and a removable nut arranged to engage the threaded portion of the stem at one end of the handle to provide for holding the latter upon the stem.

3. -In a tool of the class described, the combination of the tool-shank, a stem detachably connected at one end with said shank and provided with a threaded portion located intermediate its ends, a handle loosely and detachably fitting over the stem, and a nut adapted to engage the threaded portion of the stem at any point throughout the extent of YOO IIO

said threaded portion to constitute a removable fastening device for the handle, and also a bench-clamp for the tool, substantially as set forth.

Y4L. In a tool of the class described, the combination of the shank, a stem having a threaded end connected with the stock and provided opposite said threaded end with a screw-d river point, a handle, and a removable nut adapted to engage different portions of the stern to respectively act in the capacity of a fastening device for the handle, as a bench-clamp for the tool, and as a handle or knob for the detachable stem When used as a screw-driver.

5. In a tool of the class described, the combination of the tool-shank having threaded sockets disposed at right angles to each other, and rigid holding-studs projected from the faces in which said sockets are formed, and a handle attachment including a handle, an interior stern having a threaded dowel adapted to engage in either of said sockets, and a sleeve interposed between the handle and the stem, and provided with a locking-flange having a plurality of notches cooperating with the rigid holding-studs.

6. In a tool of the class described, the toolshank provided with an attaching-head having threaded sockets disposed at right angles to each other, and rigid holding-studs, a stem having a threaded dowel adapted to engage in either of said sockets, a handle, a sleeve mounted Within the handle and having a nonrotative engagement with the stem, said sleeve being provided with an exposed locking-flange having notches cooperating with said holdingstuds, and a fastening-nut mounted on said stern and engaging With one end of the handle, snbstantially'as set forth.

7. In a tool of the class described, the tool. shank provided With an attaching-head having threaded sockets disposed at right angles to each other, and rigid holding-studs, a stem having a polygonal portion, and a threaded dowel adapted to engage in either of said sockets, a handle, a tubular sleeve mounted Within the handle and engaged by the polygonal portion of said stem, said sleeve being provided With an exposed locking-flange having notches cooperating with said holding-studs, and a fastening-nut mounted on the said stem and engaging with one end ofthe handle, Substantially as set forth.

8. In a tool of the class described, the combination of the tool-shank, a combined handle and tool-stem having a detachable connection at one end with the shank, and having at its opposite end an angular portion, a handle supported upon the stem, a fasteningnut adjustably mounted upon the stem and engaging Within one end of the handle, said nut having a knob portion through Which the angular end of the stem projects, and a bracearm having a socket adapted to fit over the angular end of the stem and project Within said knob portion of the nut, substantially as set forth.

9. `In a device of the class described, the combination with the tool-shank, of a detachable combined handle and tool-stem having a threaded connection with the shank, and a knob adapted to be detachably mounted on the threaded end of the stem when the latter is detached from the shank.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL J. JOHNSTON.

Witnesses:

JOHN H. SIGGERS, FLORENCE E. WALTER. 

